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Location:
Ipswich
Registered:
May 2002
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Fixing coolant leak
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Tue, 06 July 2004 22:39
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Right, I've got this SV21 Camry. Sort of a drivearound car.
Anyway, driving around town the car is great, very smooth, no issues or anything. Then I took it long distance on the weekend, and it appears that when I drive it long distance it loses radiator coolant - I'm guessing when driving for long distance the coolant pressure builds enough to leak out?
On closer inspection, it appears to have seeped out from somewhere between the head and block, could perhaps be head gasket?
Apart from ripping the head off and stuff is there any easier way to fix this? I think I've seen some sort of stuff you put in your radiator that fixes leaks? Someone else told me to put ground pepper in the radiator??? Does any of that work?
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Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Fixing coolant leak
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Tue, 06 July 2004 22:43
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No, none of that works beyond a dodgy stop-gap measure. If your headgasket is blown, there's only one way to fix it... get your wallet out!
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Location:
Ipswich
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Fixing coolant leak
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Tue, 06 July 2004 23:00
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Oh darn, oh well... Hmm, never taken an engine apart before, this could be interesting 
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Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Fixing coolant leak
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Tue, 06 July 2004 23:27
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It might end up being cheaper to swap in another engine. 3S-GE conversion perhaps?
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Location:
Ipswich
Registered:
May 2002
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Location:
Sydney
Registered:
May 2004
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Re: Fixing coolant leak
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Wed, 07 July 2004 03:00
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it could be a welsh plug?
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Location:
Ipswich
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Fixing coolant leak
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Wed, 07 July 2004 03:04
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Possible, and I thought about that at first (because at first I saw that there was a bit of coolant sitting in the middle of the welsh plug) but upon closer inspection it looks like it's seeping INTO the welsh plug and not around it, as in from above, where the head meets the block. Well, that's what it looks like anyway...
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Location:
Sydney
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Fixing coolant leak
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Wed, 07 July 2004 03:10
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sounds about the right kms for a welsh plug to go.
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Location:
Ipswich
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Fixing coolant leak
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Wed, 07 July 2004 03:21
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Hmm, maybe. How do I check if it is the welsh plug or something else? It doesn't leak when the engine is just running at idle, and even rev'ing it doesn't get it to leak...
Is it expensive to get a welsh plug replaced?
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Location:
Newcastle
Registered:
April 2003
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Re: Fixing coolant leak
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Wed, 07 July 2004 04:28
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Why don't you take it to a workshop and let them have a look at it for you,just don't tell them what you think is wrong.
If it is the headgasket and you haven't done one before then it might be cheaper for you to get them to fix it,or there is some copper sealer stuff that is meant to work a treat.With 320 klms it might be the best option.At least then you can still drive it till it stops then do a eng swap with the money you save.
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Location:
Ipswich
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Fixing coolant leak
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Wed, 07 July 2004 04:37
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MJH: Erm... For some reason I didn't really understand that... Surely my bumbling around to change the headgasket would end up cheaper than getting a workshop to change it for me (which would become parts plus labour instead of just parts plus my time)?
And umm... drive it till it stops and then do an engine swap?
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Location:
Newcastle
Registered:
April 2003
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Re: Fixing coolant leak
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Wed, 07 July 2004 07:12
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| demuire wrote on Wed, 07 July 2004 14:37 |
And umm... drive it till it stops and then do an engine swap?
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Why not.
With 320,000 klms on the eng it's going to be tired,new H/G or not.
If it was my car i would put some sealer in like chemiweld or seal up(?) and just keep driving it.Save the $$$ and get a new mtr when it finally shits itself.
But it's your car and if you want to do the H/G then go for it,i was just offering my opinion.
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Location:
Rocklea qld
Registered:
February 2003
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Re: Fixing coolant leak
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Wed, 07 July 2004 07:31
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organise a time with me and bring it around. Ill get the pressure pump from work and we can sort out exactly what it is.
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Location:
Sydney
Registered:
May 2004
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Re: Fixing coolant leak
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Wed, 07 July 2004 07:42
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Your talking about swapping the engine over something that could be as simple as a $3.95 welsh plug. :s
My mate has 350,000+ kms on his car and its still going strong.
My car has only done 30,000 kms since we put a reco engine in and now its just out of warranty and the engine is blowing white smoke.
Just something to consider. . .
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Location:
Sydney
Registered:
May 2004
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Re: Fixing coolant leak
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Wed, 07 July 2004 07:43
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Btw its a 3sge gen1 thats blowing the smoke
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Location:
Newcastle
Registered:
April 2003
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Re: Fixing coolant leak
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Wed, 07 July 2004 07:56
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| Celica_John wrote on Wed, 07 July 2004 17:42 |
Your talking about swapping the engine over something that could be as simple as a $3.95 welsh plug. :s
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No.I thought i made it clear i was talking bout if the headgasket needed doing.
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Registered:
June 2004
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Re: Fixing coolant leak
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Thu, 08 July 2004 09:17
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it could also be the manifold gasket, tighten the bolts on that and see if it still leaks. put some maniseal around the area too just to be sure.
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Location:
Sydney
Registered:
October 2002
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Re: Fixing coolant leak
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Fri, 09 July 2004 07:48
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Cheap option is a bottle of chem-i-weld and an engine swap somewhere down the road when the motor blows up, but what i would (and did) do is rip the head off, get it serviced (new guides and seals, acid dip and a machine.
The machine + pressure test is just about essential with a headgasket because when the engine got hot enough to blow the gasket it could have warped or even cracked the head). Then replace the gasket, put it all back together (with much care, ofcourse) and cross your fingers that the bottom end holds strong for as long as you own the car.
A head service should cost you no more than $400 anywhere you go. Most places will also give you a VRS kit which gives you the headgasket, manifold gaskets, cam seals and sparkplug tube seals which is everything you need. The job should take you no longer than a weekend. Good luck buddy. Hope this helps.
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Location:
Sydney
Registered:
October 2002
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Re: Fixing coolant leak
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Fri, 09 July 2004 07:50
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<----That picture is the cause of me knowing all about this subject.
~Josh
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Location:
Ipswich
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Fixing coolant leak
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Fri, 09 July 2004 12:36
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joecoolmk2: Umm... as in exhaust manifold gasket? Why would that cause it to leak?
MrBeach: Thanks for that... Hmm. Okay, that's a bit more than what I was hoping to spend... Will think about it.
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